Chapter 1483: Seventy Percent Confidence

Although the Chancellor's words did not reveal his own clear inclination, they already hinted that he, like the navy, supported the first plan.

"Yes, we are confident we can defeat their main army at the shogunate's throat." Zhao Song still held his head high and chest out, answering with a decisive and firm manner. "According to the intelligence we have painstakingly gathered during this period, the shogunate's main army is far inferior to our dynasty's forces in equipment, training, troop quality, and experience. Moreover, this time we are using meticulously selected elite officers and soldiers, so we can certainly smash their army in one blow!"

"But you only have a few thousand men, while they may have tens of thousands, even over a hundred thousand." The Chancellor calmly pointed out the worrisome aspect. "You say our troops are superior to the enemy — I believe that. But the army the shogunate assembles will be over ten times the size of our forces. Even if our troops are elite, I fear there is still the worry of being overwhelmed by sheer numbers...?"

"The Chancellor's concerns are not without reason. However, since ancient times, leading troops into battle always involves taking risks; it is merely a question of how great or small. And in my view, the risks in executing this operational plan are not particularly high, and the chance of victory should be above seventy percent. Since ancient times, wars have never been won simply by having more men. Examples of defeating the many with the few, of sweeping away motley mobs with elite troops, are everywhere. We are confident we can emulate the worthies of old and fight such a great battle in Japan as well, to be passed down to posterity and to display the martial might of China!" Although the Chancellor was already applying considerable pressure, Zhao Song still showed no sign of backing down. "Furthermore, as the Chancellor rightly said, we need a quick battle and a swift resolution, so striking directly at their throat will surely be the most reliable method of warfare. If we occupy Kyoto first, and the Edo Shogunate a thousand li away is slow to act, failing to assemble a main army to fight a decisive battle with us, wouldn't our troops be wasting time idly in Kyoto? Therefore, from our planning perspective, a late battle is worse than an early battle, a small battle is worse than a large battle — we might as well settle the whole situation in one fight."

"Well said! Such planning, such valor — the Count of Xingyang truly lives up to his reputation for both courage and resourcefulness." At that moment, Marshal Shi Manqiang, who had remained silent all along, finally spoke. "I also think the Count of Xingyang is right. Since our army has the advantage and needs a quick battle and swift resolution, we should simply force the shogunate to fight us as soon as possible. If we fight in the west, the shogunate, confident they still have capital to spare, might still harbor illusions after losing one or two battles and may not bow their heads and sue for peace so quickly. But if we land at Yokosuka and win there, it will be different. As soon as they are defeated, their routed army will shake the entire city of Edo! At that point, with the shogunate's very foundation in peril, they likely won't have the nerve to keep stalling us. That way we can also achieve our goal of a quick battle and swift resolution as soon as possible."

Seeing that the highest-ranking military officer present had spoken, the council hall quieted down considerably for a moment, and most of the previous whispering subsided. Because of his esteemed rank as Marshal, his profound seniority, and his status as one of the Emperor's old brothers, Marshal Shi Manqiang held great prestige within the military. Once he spoke, not only the army men but even the navy men had nothing to say for the moment. The Marquis of Jiujiang, Liu Tao, had originally wanted to say a few more words in consideration of his own side, but he too held his tongue.

Everyone watched the Marshal and the Chancellor, waiting for the two of them to argue to a conclusion.

However, at this moment, the Chancellor had no intention of arguing. He raised his head and looked at the Emperor.

Because he did not involve himself much in military affairs, he did not wish to argue about military matters with these old military men who had fought wars for so many years. Although he leaned toward the first plan, that was merely due to his nature of preferring stability, not because he was absolutely set on that plan. In any case, all of this required the Emperor to decide personally, so he might as well let the Emperor himself choose.

Seeing that the Chancellor no longer intended to say more on this issue, the Emperor smiled faintly, then waved a hand toward the Chancellor.

Then, he looked toward Zhao Song.

Because they were in public, his demeanor was much sterner, no longer carrying the previous warmth.

"Zhao Song, you must remember, you are a high general of the court. You cannot ruin the court's great affairs because of your own impulsive spirit. I have told you many times, in war, relying on personal brute courage is useless; you must rely on your mind. Do you still remember?"

"Your Majesty's teachings — your servant silently recites them in his heart at every moment and dares not forget them even for an instant." Zhao Song answered loudly. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Your servant's inclination toward the second plan comes after many war games and planning sessions with the staff officers. This is the method of warfare most suited to our dynasty's actual circumstances, not a rash impulse from your servant wanting to vent brute spirit. Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"

"So, you truly have great confidence?" The Emperor still stared at Zhao Song. "You just said your chance of victory can reach seventy percent — that should not be empty words, right?"

"Your servant has received Your Majesty's sacred grace — how would I dare deceive Your Majesty with empty words!" Zhao Song hurriedly stood up, then bowed deeply toward the Emperor. "The seventy percent chance of victory is the result we arrived at after estimating all kinds of actual situations, considering our army's disadvantages and the enemy's strengths, and overestimating the difficulties. If we look at it realistically, the chance of victory is only higher! It is precisely because we feel the odds are so high that your servant so resolutely supports the second plan, in order to achieve a quick battle and swift resolution and relieve His Majesty's worries at an early date! Please trust your servant once more, Your Majesty. Having received Your Majesty's teachings for many years, and having led troops into battle for many years, repeatedly achieving military merits, after so many years of tempering, your servant is long past being a frivolous, rash, and boastful man!"

Then, as if having made some kind of resolution, Zhao Song took a deep breath and shouted loudly, "If Your Majesty does not believe me, your servant is willing to stake his own life and the safety of his family on it. This campaign will certainly succeed. If it does not succeed, your servant will bring his own head before you!"

This shout, like a thunderclap rousing the deaf, plunged the entire hall into an unusual silence. Everyone looked at this general, feeling from him a surging, irresistible determination — the very confidence that the Great Han army had forged through years of ever-victorious, ever-triumphant campaigns.

Even the Crown Prince, looking at this paternal uncle, could not help but secretly feel admiration in his heart. He was even infected to the point of wanting to take up a three-foot blade himself and follow this great general to that island nation ten thousand li away to display the national might of Great Han — though he himself knew this was unlikely, because he was only so old, and moreover held the esteemed position of Crown Prince, so he could not possibly be sent to the battlefield. He could only remain in Goryeo and do his utmost to handle logistics support for these brave warriors and eliminate their worries about matters back home.

As Zhao Song shouted, the Emperor first stared at Zhao Song without speaking, then his brow gradually relaxed, and finally it even turned into a smile.

"Haha, you, ah, you..." The Emperor laughed heartily, instantly restoring the atmosphere of the council hall to one of ease. "You still tell me you've learned from my teachings all these years — look at you, how could you forget that when facing great matters one should maintain calm? What's all this about bringing your head before me or not? Victory and defeat are common matters for soldiers. You are a high general — if you had to die every time you lost, how would we fight this war? How many high generals do I have to spare for death? Don't say such dull things!"

After scolding his cousin a few times, the Emperor softened his tone again. "However, I still know you well enough. You are not someone who casually speaks big words. Since you say there is at least a seventy percent chance of victory, then it's probably no less than eighty percent. Since it's eighty percent, I think this plan can indeed be used. But let me tell you, the battlefield is ever-changing. No matter how well you plan from the tent, when it comes to actual fighting, all sorts of changing circumstances will still arise. You should understand this very well. So, saying now that there's a seventy or eighty percent chance of victory may not hold true when the time comes. I remind you of this: if you get there and find the situation unfavorable, withdraw as early as possible, preserve the main force, and choose a more stable plan. Rest assured, I won't take your head!"

The Emperor's meaning was quite plain. Since Zhao Song spoke with such brimming confidence, he would go along with Zhao Song's method for the time being and decided to deploy operations according to his second plan. However, since ancient times the battlefield has been ever-changing, and because Zhao Song had spoken so absolutely, the Emperor worried that if they encountered setbacks, Zhao Song might refuse to retreat for the sake of saving face. So he simply relieved him of that mental knot in advance.

Zhao Song naturally understood the Emperor's intention very clearly, and a flash of emotion suddenly passed through his heart.

"Your Majesty protects us so — your servant... your servant is moved to tears of gratitude! Your servant can only devote his whole heart unto death to repay the imperial grace! Please rest assured, Your Majesty, in this campaign, Zhao Song will surely trample Japan flat, to comfort His Majesty's sacred heart!"

"Alright, alright, save the fine words for when you return. What big talk are you bragging now!" The Emperor waved his hand with a smile, then turned his head to look at the other ministers. "You all speak up. If you still have any opinions, by all means bring them forth."

Although the Emperor seemed to be in quite a good mood, everyone was perceptive enough to see that the Emperor was already very inclined to agree to the second plan that Zhao Song insisted on. That being the case, regardless of whether they supported or opposed it in their hearts, how could they possibly have any words of opposition? Naturally, they all expressed one after another that the second plan was simple and direct, could both display the heavenly might of our Great Han and conform to the principle of a quick battle and swift resolution.

And amid this chorus of ministers echoing agreement, the Emperor swept his gaze around the assembled ministers and noticed that the expression of that young minister of the Foreign Affairs Department, Zhou Pu, who was attending a state affairs meeting for the first time, seemed somewhat strange, as if he wanted to speak but held back.

"Zhou Pu, it seems you still have something to say?" The Emperor called on him by name, whereupon the other ministers all fell silent, waiting for this young official to speak.

"Your servant... your servant... your servant is just..." Zhou Pu still hesitated, as if still concerned about something.

"It's no matter. A state affairs meeting is naturally for deliberation. It cannot be the one-man show of one person or a few people. As long as you have an opinion, you may raise it. Only then can we achieve the effect of pooling everyone's wisdom and efforts." The Emperor encouraged him with a face full of smiles. "Go ahead and speak. If it makes sense, we'll continue deliberating. If it's good enough, we'll adopt it. If it doesn't make sense, that's also fine — we'll just treat it as if it was never said!"